Improvement in trusses



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. MERomoE GAINEsvILLE, GEORGIA, AssIeNoE To HIMsELE AND D. E. BANKS, OF SAME PLAGE.

' IMPROVEMENT INTRussEs.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 177,535, dated May 16, 1876; application led February 12,1876. l

To all whom it may concern,-

Be itv known that I, THOMAS M. MERGK, of Gainesville, Hill county, State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Hernial Trusses 5 and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description thereof, reference bei`n g had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my pad,4 v detached from the belts and strap, and Fig.

2 is a like view of the instrument complete.

Letters of like nalne'and kind referY to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of 1ny invention is to increase the eiiciency and ease' of mechanical appli- "ances employed for thevtreatment ot' hernia;

its doubled central portion increases in width,

as shown. At the doubled vendl b', of vthe spring B is hinged abuckle, C, to which one end of a belt, D, is connected, while at the end of the forks b is hinged a second buckle, E, that receives -the opposite end of said belt. A third buckle, F, is hinged to one edge, at the end of the forks b, and receives one end of a strap, G, which, from thence, passes downward, rearward, and upf ward, and has its opposite end secured to or upon thev belt D, said strap being connected to the latter and to said spring at a right angle to their length. A flat spring, H, attached to the inner side of the forks b at its end, and from thence extending in a curve inward and toward the forks b, completes the device, which is employed in the usual manner-by securing the belt around the body, so as to bring the pad over the rupture, and then passing the strap between the thighs, and connecting its free end to the buckle F. The form of the spring B gives to the pad a constantpressure upon the person of itswearer,

while the supplemental spring H operates to slightly increase the tension of said spring B, and, by supporting the latter at its weakest point, renders practicable the employment of but slight thickness of metal, and, colisequently, lessens the rigidity and increases the ease with which the device adapts itself to changes in the position of its wearer.

' 4Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of inytinvention, what I claim as new 1s- The means employed for connecting the pad A to 'or with the belt D,and for producing an elastic pressure upon said pad when in use, consistingof the V-shaped springs B b b"b, supplemental spring H, and buckles C, E, and F, combinedwith. each other, and with said parts, in the mannersubstantially as specified.

In testimony whereof -I have hereunto set my hand'this 8th day February, 1876.

' T. M. MERCK.

Witnesses:

OLAUD ESTES,

J. W. BAILEY. 

